NITSCHKE BROa.
ftlank Book Manulacturers.
AND TEACHERS' GUIDE.
Entered at the Post-Office of
New York, N. Y., as Second-Class Matter.
NEW YORK. JANUARY. 1884.
Vol. VIII.— No. 1.
Lessons in Practical Writing.
By a. H. HiNMAN.
Copyrighted by A. H. Hinmi
Skill in any a
directed efforts,
writing lies in
directed by the inind.
is the result of properly
The secret of success in
careful study of correct
observance of them
during practicp. We have full faith that
if all who desire improved penmanship will
study and carry out the instructions in this
and future lessons they will be well re-
warded. Fair writing, like " Fair Lady,"
will not be won by faint heart or indiffer-
ence. The many little attentions suggested
tion gives power, and as an aid to writing
the feet should always be flat upon the
floor. The body should lean slightly for-
ward and to the left about five degrees
from perpendicular, with the breast about
one inch from the desk. The seat and desk
should be adapted to the needs of the stu-
dent. The top of the desk should be even
with the elbow of the writer, as his arm
hangs at his side. The position for copy-
books upon narrow desks is the right side
at the desk.
Tar Copy Books
For writing upon large books, the left
side is best.
PD5il(on for BDok-Keepers.
/ . --
While writing, the eyes shqujd be fro
twelve to eighteen inches from the point of
the pen, the distance depending upon the
size of the person. The light falling upon
the paper should come from the left side of
the writer, and in the evening should be
lamplight instead of gas. The position of
the riglitarm should he well out from the
body, while the hands should come to-
gether on the paper at a right angle well
away from the breast. The left should
hold the paper, and the other the pen.
In holding the pen, the back of the
thumb should be bent nearly to a right
angle, and the second finger bent so as to
bring it nearly opposite the thumb.
The forefingers should reach beyond all
other fingers, the end being about one inch
from the point of the pen. The forefinger
nail, the lower part of the thumb and wrist,
should he upon a straight line, and with
adults one inch above the paper. The
second and third fingers sliould always be
separated, while the third and fourth fin-
gers should bend beneath the hand never to
rest, but always to slide with a lightness of
touch equal to that of the pen. The pen-
holder should cross opposite the knuckles,
the upper end pointing at or a little below
the right shoulder. The penholder will
balance better iu the hand by being short-
ened one inch hack of the knuckles. The
penholder should be held lightly between
the thumb and fingers, gripping it only at
the instant of making a shade. Both ribs
of tlie penholder should rest evenly upon
the paper, while the more erect the pen is
held the finer will be the line. The pen-
holder should be of light wood, with the
pen-clasp always firm upon it.
As the above instructions are presented
as reliable aids to good writing, it may be
of value to some readers to leam the re-
sults of their violation. When the feet are
crossed or placed in an awkward position,
they do not give that firm and natural sup-
port to the body which is essential to good
writing. When sitting too far from the
desk and leaning forward too much, the
weight of the boiiy is apt to be supported
in part by the right-arm, which interferes
with ease and freedom of movement. Too
much leaning may result from a desk too
low, or seat too higli ; or, an uneasy and
unnatural position of the hands and arms
may result from a desk too high, or seat
too low, cramped writing being the result.
Throwing the head well over to the left,
often deceives one into being pleased with
his writing during its execution, but disap-
pointed when viewing the writing squarcdy
before the eyes. The head should, there-
fore, he upon a line with the spine. Where
the hands do not como ne.ir together an
easy support of the body is not obtained ;
and when the hands are brought too near
the breast the movements of the arms and
hands are impeded. When the tiumb and
second fingers are placed upon the pen-
holder nearly straight or without heiug well
bent, their movements are weak and feeble,
and easy finger movement is absolutely
impossible; while with the thumb and
secoud fingers well bent, they are in the
best position for straight and easy action.
Tbe thumb well bent, resting against the
sides of the handle, gives the power to
make strong upward strokes in long letters
with ease, simply by straightening the
thumb. The sliding upon tbe nail of the
littJe finger is practiced as successfully by
skillful penmen as where two nails touch
the paper. All experience proves the fact
that, however difficult to acquire, correct
peuholding is absolutely necefsary for suc-
cess in producing easy and correct writing.
The dropping of the wrist near to or
upon the desk prevents the benefit of the
muscular movement. This movement is
most effective when the wrist is raised so
as to bring the rest near the elbow. When
the penholder does not point at or near the
right shoulder, the hand is turned over too
far to the right, bringing the pen's poict
upon the paper, so as to cause them to
move sideways. This produces imperfect
lines and shades — besides, forces tbe fingers
to do the writing without the aid of the
muscular movement. The gripping of the
pen prevents the limber action of the fin-
gers required to produce the light touch
necessary for the clean cut, smooth, hair
lines so effective in fine penmanship. Be-
sides, gripping the pen soon causes the
head to ache, and is the main ciuse of
writers' cramp. Au easy cure for gripping
the pen consists in wrapping twine around
tbe penholder where the fingers rest till its
thiclcness equals that of a blackboard cray-
on. Turning the band over to the right,
while writing, is easily corrected by tying
a six-inch pencil or stick across the palm
of the hand, allowing it to project to the
right one inch.
Movements in writing are of four kinds :
Finger, Muscular, Combined, Whoharm.
The finger movement consists in extending
and contracting the thumb, second and
third fingers. This movement is used to
advantage in very small writing, such as is
used upon carefully written ladies' cards.
The long, straight lines in loop letters, and
letters ji, t, and d, are made with more pre-
cision by contracting the fingers than with
any other movement.
7ic muscular movement is produced by
action of the muscle near the elbow, as
1 in the engraving of the arm and hand.
This movement is used to advantage in
very rapid business-writine.
The combined movement is the result of a
combined or simultaneous action of the
finger and muscular movement, and is the
chief movement used by the most skillful
penmen.
The wholearm movement is produced by
lifting tbe forearm, and swiuging the hand
and pen from the shoulder. This move-
ment is used in forming large, bold capitals,
and is aided in its development by practice
with crayon upon the blackboard, as black-
board writing is of necessity produced by
the wholearm movement.
According to Roman letters, from which
original script or writing was derived, the
general proportions of a letter are, 3 by 4
— three measures in width by four in
length. This proportion should, in our
opinion, be recognized as the standard
length and width of one space in writing.
As written letters slant to the right, the
correct slant may be ascertained by draw-
ing the left and top sides of a square ; then
dividing the top line into three equal parts,
and draw a slanting line, as in example No.
] below.
Ex. No. 2 represents one space, or the
opening between two slanting straight lines
placed three-fourths of their length apart.
Ex. No. ;J shows the letter n occupying
three spares. The general direction of
curved lines is seen, in n, to be diagonally
across a space ; the spacing between letters
may be seen in the M'ords that follow.
In Ex. No. 4 the letters are one space
apart. In No. 5 there is one and one-third
spaces between letters. In No. 6 there are
two spaces between the letters. The spac-
ing between letters should always be uni-
form, but according to the taste of the
writer. Practice upon long words widely
spaced between letters tends greatly to de-
velop a free lateral movement. But care
must be taken to make the letters correctly.
In another lesson will be presented an
alphabet with the general proportions of
letters, one space, or three by four, as
above.
Send Specimens and Questions.
It may be of future interest and advan-
tage to all of our readers who purpose to
make a special effort for improvement of
their writing, under the tuition of Prof.
Hiuman's course of lessons, to forward
specimens of their present writing, to be
placed on file for future comparison and
reference. We would suggest tliat they
be written as follows :
" This is a fair specimen of my writing
before practicing from the lessons given by
Prof. Hinman through the columns of the
Penman's Art Jowrnal,"
Give plainly the name and address.
We are also requested by Prof. Hinman
to say that he will take pleasure in answer-
ing, through the Journal, any questions
pertaining to practical \\Titing which may
may be sent to him during the continuance
of his course of lessons. All specintenB of
writiug, and such questions should bo ad-
dressed to Prof. A. H. Hioman, Worcester,
Mass.
.^^
,f=^\rfHTs-ffi"™^fi^o,->i^
> ove cut 18 pholo-engravfd from an original dwign executed at the office of lh« JouilNAl., and ia given as a specimen of pen-drawing and lettering. The aljove design has been primed, in
nne style, on Bristol-board, writing and bond paper ; size, 11 x 14. The Bristol-board is for framing, and the paper for rolling or folding. It is also printed upon a line quality of Bristol-
oarrt lor framing, 17x22. This design is belisved to be the most artistic and tasty form yet published for a Marriage Certificate. Single copies of size 11x14 mailed for 50 cents i
JOx,K, SI. Free as a premium with the JornNAi. Kiiber ■;,. o;^e„
,^^
Mill- "-'^i^JSl^ ' ^ -'.-— ^-^
No cut of this picture is given, owing to the large size of the original picture, which
prevents a successful reduction to a size eultable for these pages. The original picture
whtch was exhibited at the Centennial Exposition, and is now to be seen at the office of
the JOURNAI,, ,s 32x48 inches in size, and was designed and executed witb a pen b,
u. 1. Ames. It embraces the two great Charters of American Liberty, the Declaration
of Independence, Proclamation of Emancipation, witli portraits of Washington and Lin-
coln, and twentytwo pictorial scenes illustrative of the leading national events and im-
provements of the century past.
The growth and improvements of the country are strikingly represented bv two in-
genious and skillfully drawn landscape pictures: one, "1776," presents an interminable
wilderness, broken here and there by small pioneer settlements; the other, '■ 1876 " pre-
exnibiting a populous country, great cities, railroads, canals, lines of telegraph, bridges,
manufectones, ship yards, public and private institutions, forts, ligbt-honses, commercei
„n.„^°°°7'"^"*.*''° "'™ P'"'"™ '" ' ''"''"■ '«"' «"'"i"i"g through it, forming
nnfiT'l '"°'°"''' '™°'''" ''™'"''"' "'»«" •"■" floral work, which i,;ite» and
effot 7 P,""°"',™P'"-""f '» ">e whole work a remarkably unique and pictorial
eflect No desoriphou can be given in this limited space to do it justice. It must be
Been to be oompreh ended.
home?n''tb'!!T'! '" r "^ '."" :"'""' "'"' '''°"''' """" " P'""- i° ""T .choolroom and
home in the land. Thousands of these pictures have been sold by agents at $2 each.
s from the press and eminent men :
The following are a few of the many <
u n Kta
Oenle
nnial production w
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,„;■!:::::
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Sunday
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Expra,
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"It ianrenia
knbly ingenioui an
CmUnnial Weloorw
dbeaoU
ful picture."
" It I« the mo
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havp ever Men."
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Daily
Brooklyn Daily
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.d ..mark
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most meritoriZs*
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"bl'a"
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Brooklyn (N. T
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"It \» ingenio
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B»y. E
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••iwni,.o.iv.
great ..lUfadionfr
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HOS. IIAMILTOS
Pisn, a
ootetary «1
Slate^
Vaibinglon,
M. R. WAITB, 01
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! lubjeel „
8. Sup
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Wasbingrtun, D. C.
■, Wiwhlugton, 1>. C.
Responsibility for Mail.
The riek of Betiding properly directed
matter by mail is very Blight; and in all
cases where the remitter will hand the eamii
to the postmaaler fcr examination beforo
sealing, we will he responsible for losses;
and on the statement of the postmaBter
that he saw the money inclosed and duly
ceived by us. Persons directing books and
packages to be sent by mail may have the
same regiatorod by sitnply remitting ten
cents extra. All such packages are sent at
the risk of the person who, orders.
The January Issue Exhausted.
So unexpectedly numerous have been
subscribers since January, who wished to
begin with the year, that the several thou-
sand copies reserved for back numbers have
been entirely exhausted ; but in order that
the course of writing-lessons by Prof, Hia-
man, which began in that number, may still
be complete to those who may in future wish
to begin with the year, we have here re-
printed that portion of the January number
containing the lesson, together with cuts
showing copies, reduced in size, of six of
our premiums, viz., the Bounding Stag,
Spread Eagle, Garfield Memorial, Lord's
Prayer, Family Record, and Marriage Cer-
tificate.
Agents and others who desire to repre-
sent what the premiuina are can secure
extra copies of this sheet. The copies
here represented are greatly reduced in size
from those given as premiums, and hence
present a very much inferior appearance.
The premium-sheets are all printed, in the
finest style, on heavy plate-paper, and con-
stitute a series of the finest and most inter-
esting pen-pictures that have ever been re-
produced in this country.
Back Numbers.
Every mail brings inquiries respecting
back numbers. The fullnwiug we can send,
and no others: All numbers of 1878 but
December; all for 1879, except January,
May and Novtmber ; all numbers for 1880 ;
all numbers for 1881 ; all for 1882, except
June; all for 1883, \nxl January. It will
be noted that while Mr. Spencer's wridng-
lessims began with May, the second lesson
was in the July number. Ouly a tew copies
of several of the numbers mentioned above
remain, so that pers')n8 desiring all or any
part of them should order quickly. All the
51 numbers, back of 1 883, will be mailed
for $4, or any of the oumbera at 10 centi
A|{ I .-lOlIKNAL
Penr
The
I's Art Journal
Hae now altaiued to the fourth
nuinher o( it8 eighth vohime,
and readied a circulation of
over I. "i.OOn copies monthly. It
is amone the finest |iriDted and
best illustrated papers of the
world. Every number will cou-
taio sixteen pHges, the eize of
Harper's Illustrated Weekli/.
In each will be a leseon in
eral specimens from tiie pens of
our leading tuasters, as well as
from amateur penmen. There
will also he carefully written
essays upon topics ot general
interest, and a select miscellaQy
pertaining to art, science, litera-
ture, humorous and educational
Terms and Premiums.
With the first aumbpr of the
Journal each subscriber who
remits $1 is entitled to receive,
free, a choice of the following
premiums :
First. "Ames's Guide to Self-
Instruction in Practical and Ar-
tistic Penmanship," which is a
handsome work of 64 pages,
giving examples for flourishing
and lettering. Second. The Cen
tennial Picture of Progress, 22 \
28, which is one of the most in
teresting and artistic pen pu
tures ever issued, giving a pic-
torial representatioD^of changes
wrought in our country during
the one hundred years following
the Declaration of Independ
enee. Third. The Boundmg
Stag, which is an elegant speci-
men of nourishing and lettering,
24x32 inches in size, and on
fine heavy plate-paper. Fourth.
The Spread Eagle — a beauti-
fully flourished design, same size
as Stag. Ftfth. The Garfield
Memorial, which is an elaborate
and beautiful specimen of ar-
tistic pen-work, 19 x24 Sixth
The Lord's Prayer same size as
the Memorial, is an elegant and
popular pen- picture Seventh
and Eighth. A Family Record
or Marriage Certificate eacli
18x22. Also, very attractive
and valuable publications
Liberal Terms to Agents
Who should Surscribe tor
THE "Journal.'
Every lady or gentleman whu
would make an effort for the im-
provement of their writing at
home or in their place of busi-
Every teacher and pupil of
writing in oar schools.
Every parent who has eons or
daughters whom he would have
become more interested or effi-
cient in their writing.
Every school officer who
would be familiar with the high-
est staudards of writing and best
methods for its instruction.
Every admirer of good prac-
tical or artistic penmanship.
Writing-Ruler.
The Writing-Ruler has he-
come a sUndard article with
those who profess to have a
suitable outfit for practical wri-
ting. It is to the writer what
the chart and compass is to the
mariner. The Writing- Kuler is
a reliable penmanship chart and
compass, sent by the Journal
on receipt of 30 cents.
An 1 -JonitNAL
Comments
of the Press on the
"Journal ^^ ^ ^^
telow we quote fr n a o^~^>j^^^
of the many h ghly •^iJ'ih'
Jujt .u h h Dga V siBc
complimentary
which the press of th
try haa been pleased to be «^
7 upon the Journal
/g) ; . s belmu m »arlulio«„a.,..i,o„.
y- J"^ / f\<: ' • uyi,n.«Wiop,p„.„d
-L^ "f W > Jj^ . 1» o b ,bly o<.mm«d.d.
The aboTB cut is photo-engraved from an original pen-a.Td-inrSgn, 32x28, executed M theTtlir'oMhe'jouKNAL. Copie, wrfu'p'uTd" ™., „, ba.d '.;^"
have been finely printed on Btietol-board, 18x22. A copy i, given free, a. a premium, with the JouRNiL. Price, by r^tlc „l.ia p,.l..b,p „d„".
mail. 5U centB. Spiiii for Agept'a Circular . " ot the best teachers Id America
in do by simply lubsorib-
, °-"si free, as a premium, with the "Journal."
Umde „ a book of 64 large pages, elegantly printed on the finest quality of plate-paper, an,
txcluiimly to malruction and copies for plain writing, off hand flourishing and lettering. We are sure that no
other work, of near-ly equal cost, is now before the public that will render as efficient aid to either teacher or
learner, in all the departments of th. penman's an, as will this. Thirty-two pages are devoted to inslruolion
and copies for plain writing. Fourteen pages to the principle, and examples for flourishing. Sixteen pages
to alphabet., package-marking, and monograms. Price, by mail : in paper cover, 75 cent. • handsomely
bound m slifi ccvers 81. Given free (in paper), a, a premium with the JotmiiAI, one year, for «1 ; full
na ^m .t,n cover, for J1.2.,. Live sg.nls wanted iu every town in America, to whom liberal discount,
will be given. Bo h the JoLllNAL and book are things that take everywhere. With them agents can make
more money, with less effort, than with any other publication they handle.
ably edited by I
moDthly. i
Comments on "Ames's New Compendium of Artistic Penmanship."
of th, peim,«u', arl .7,7 I.?, T P"-"'-^.. wl...!. .. ,imT.r.ally acknowledged l„ be ibe mo.t comprehen.ive and practical guide, in tbe enlir, rauge
inch plale, I, conlain. n Z? , commercial de.igo., engroe.ed reeololion., memorial,, cerlifical.,, title pages, etc., etc.: in all, 8EV1MTV 11x14
sender of a club oi ."'."». "b.cribe™Tnd'«i° T,'J "T'"" °/"°w 'i" ""! "°' °' ^ P"'"""""' P— '■''•'■ P™'. b^ "■«". »5; mailed free, a. a premium, to
at liberty to return it and we » llTefund ,„' ,h m th ril" d" '*'" '' ''' '°^°°'' °° ™°'''" °^ "" ''°°''' *" '"""'"«"'' ™"^ "' ""^ '•■'»
TheBe cute represent one each of the large and Binall currenoj notes for use in conducting actual bueiueBS trans
oial schools The currencj is printed on good bank-note paper, and in all the desired denoniir
Circulars giving full information mailed on re()ue8t.
'IrO.
^VH
t ^ ^ )) §;^
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The above cuts are photo-engraved from pen-and-ink copy executed at the office ef the Journal, and are given as specimens of commercial work.
Orders for similar work received and promptly fllled. Estimates given on'request.
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